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Konowalchuk, Deadmarsh Added To Avs Coaching Staff
by Paul on 06/19/09 at 11:54 AM ET
Comments (10)
DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today the appointment of Steve Konowalchuk as assistant coach. In addition, the club announced that Adam Deadmarsh will serve as the team’s video/development coach.
The former Avalanche players join a coaching staff that includes head coach Joe Sacco and assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre.
“We’re very excited to add Steve and Adam to our staff,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman. “Both have a level of familiarity with the Avalanche organization, and we’re confident they will provide our club with the same passion and commitment they showed as players.”
Konowalchuk, 36, will begin his first season with the Avalanche in a coaching capacity. He previously spent the 2007-08 campaign as a member of the club’s Player Development Department after retiring from the NHL in September of 2006.
“I look forward to continuing my working relationship with the Avalanche,” said Konowalchuk. “I know the vast majority of these players very well, having worked with them at different points of their careers.”
Konowalchuk played 790 games over 14 NHL seasons, recording 171 goals and 225 assists with Washington and Colorado. The forward also appeared in 52 playoff games, totaling 21 points (9g/12a).
Washington’s fifth selection (third round, 58th overall) in the 1991 Entry Draft, Konowalchuk made his NHL debut on April 12, 1992 and went on to spend parts of 13 seasons with the Capitals. His best year came in 2000-01, when he set career highs in goals (24) and points (47) while playing in all 82 games. He served as Washington’s team captain in 2002-03.
Acquired by Colorado just three weeks into the 2003-04 season, Konowalchuk recorded 19 goals and 39 points in 76 games with the Avalanche that year. He was limited to only 21 games due to a wrist injury in 2005-06. Steve retired from the game of hockey during Colorado’s 2006 training camp due to a heart condition.
A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Konowalchuk represented the United States at five international tournaments: the 1992 IIHF World Junior Championship, the 1996 and 2004 World Cups of Hockey and the 2000 and 2002 IIHF World Championships.
Deadmarsh, 34, enjoyed a nine-year stint in the NHL with the Quebec/Colorado franchise and the Los Angeles Kings. In 567 career games, he totaled 184 goals, 189 assists and 819 penalty minutes.
Quebec’s second selection (first round, 14th overall) in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Deadmarsh made his NHL debut during the 1994-95 campaign with the Nordiques. The following season, he was part of the Avalanche’s first Stanley Cup Championship team, posting 17 points (5g/12a) in 22 postseason games. He led the Avs with 33 goals in 1996-97.
“My family and I are excited to come back to Denver,” said Deadmarsh. “Hockey has always been my life, and it’s great to begin my coaching career with the franchise I won a Stanley Cup with.”
The Trail, British Columbia native spent parts of seven seasons with the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise and totaled 288 points (138g/150a) in 453 games before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 21, 2001. He went on to play two and a half seasons in Los Angeles before eventually retiring from the NHL on Sept. 22, 2005 due to post-concussion syndrome.
Deadmarsh represented the United States at six international events, including the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Winter Games. In addition, he is one of only 18 players to ever suit up for Team USA at three IIHF World Junior Championships (1993-95).
Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Adam+Deadmarsh, Steve+Konowalchuk,
Comments
I have nothing but respect for Konowalchuk and Deadmarsh.
That said, have fun with that, Avs fans. You look to be in for along ride to nowhere…
Posted by Primis on 06/19/09 at 03:40 PM ET
Let me guess Primis.
Wings fan, right?
No worries, the Avs will be in the playoffs soon enough. Maybe not next year. But soon.
Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 06/19/09 at 03:45 PM ET
Can’t wait to read about the hiring of Peter Forsberg as Strength and Conditioning coach.
If anyone is used to rehabbing from an injury, it’s Pete.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 06/19/09 at 04:17 PM ET
HiHD, that would be funny if it wasn’t for the fact that Deadmarsh and Konowalchuk are actually good choices for these positions. It’s not like they put in Peter Worrell or David Aebischer.
Team connection hirings aren’t always flawed.
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 06/19/09 at 04:25 PM ET
We’ll just hire Chris Osgood as an acting coach next.
Then we’ll hire Kronwall to teach our boys how to give “legalish” hits.
Then we’ll hire Kris Draper for our press secretary.
Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 06/19/09 at 04:50 PM ET
Team connection hirings aren’t always flawed.
At some point though, doesn’t the team have to maybe make a hire or two that isn’t a team connection?
I mean, my God.
We’ll just hire Chris Osgood as an acting coach next.
Then we’ll hire Kronwall to teach our boys how to give “legalish” hits.
Then we’ll hire Kris Draper for our press secretary.
Look, I played those games back when the Avs were relevant. Get back with me when they are again and I’ll gleefully trade insults.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 06/19/09 at 06:40 PM ET
Look, I played those games back when the Avs were relevant. Get back with me when they are again and I’ll gleefully trade insults.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 06/19/09 at 07:40 PM ET
Well, here’s betting the Avs won’t have a 40 year Cup drought like the Wings had during the “Dead Things” years. I say no more than five.
Wasn’t it between ‘55 and ‘97 or something like that? So, I guess that’s 42.
I remember the Wings really sucked from ‘67 to ‘82. You know, after Gordie and before Stevie. Even after ‘82 the Wings were mainly spectators of the Islanders and the Oilers. I think some guys named Gretzky and Bossy had something to do with it.
But let me guess. You’re going to come back with the “that was a long time ago! Live in the now” excuse, even though the Wings fans are still living in the “dynasty” of the last 15 years…So, tell me. At what year does it start becoming “living in the now”? 1996? ‘97? 2001? 2008? When? If you reply 2009, well that makes the Wings second place. Which is a nice way of saying first loser.
Like they say. It doesn’t matter if you lose by one or by twelve. You still lose.
Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 06/19/09 at 08:22 PM ET
Well, here’s betting the Avs won’t have a 40 year Cup drought like the Wings had during the “Dead Things” years. I say no more than five.
Um, you do realize it has been 7 seasons since the Avs won their last Cup, right?
But let me guess. You’re going to come back with the “that was a long time ago! Live in the now” excuse
No, I’ll ‘come back with’ the “Dude, your team just finished last in the West… hush” excuse.
Good grief, how can a fan of a team that finished 10 points back of the LA Kings possibly talk smack and think anyone else cares? 
Anyway, best of luck to you guys in Colorado. It’ll be nice to see the Avs become a relevant hockey team again.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 06/19/09 at 09:18 PM ET
Well HIHD, here’s to the Avs meeting the Wings in the playoffs again soon!
It won’t be next season, but soon.
Cheers!
Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 06/20/09 at 07:33 PM ET
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Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 06/19/09 at 12:00 PM ET